STPM CHEMISTRY

SCHOOL BASED ASESSMENT

2015/2016

The Effect of pH on Corrosion of

Metals
Woo Xiangjun | 6 Adil |
 What causes corrosion?

What is Corrosion?
Corrosion is the gradual Water or
destruction of materials, moisture
usually metals, by in air
chemical reaction with its
environment.
Acids/
Bases

Presence of
impurities
What is pH?
-Strong acids have low
-pH is the negative logarithm
of the concentration of
hydrogen ion.
-pH is used as a
measurement scale on the
acidity and basicity of a
substance.
pH value.
-Strong bases have
high pH value.
-Through
experimentation and
testing over the years
by chemists, it is
proven that one of the
characteristics of
acids and bases is
PROBLEM STATEMENT
OBJECTIVES

1.To determine the effect of

different pH level on corrosion of
5 different metals.

2. To inculcate awareness on health

and environment.

3. To apply the basic chemical

principles and techniques in the
investigations.
LITERATURE
REVIEW
As far back as the Bronze Age, it was
found that metals were not very stable
in natural environments such as soil
and sea water.
In 1780, a physiologist Luigi
Galvani reported on his
experiments relating to dissimilar
metal corrosion.
In 1824, Sir Humphrey Davy, on contract to
the royal Navy, discovered the principle of
cathodic protection.
It was then concluded that corrosion is an
electrochemical reaction, in which the original
material reacts with a chemical agent to form
a new compound or to dissolve into the
chemical agent, in both cases involving a
charge transfer.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN pH AND
CORROSION
Acids are lacking in the electron department so
they rip electrons off of elements/compounds they
come into contact with. The removal of electrons
changes the properties of the material that the
acid is reacting with. A metal that has had its
electrons stolen can no longer hold together as a
solid piece.

Bases are the opposite in which they have excess

electrons that are donated to the materials they
come into contact with. These extra electrons break
the bonds holding the materials together.
Rate of Corrosion
- Most
common engineering unit to measure
corrosion rate is mpy.
- Mpy stands for Mils penetration per year and is
widely used in the U.S. measurement system.

where,

W=weight loss (g)

D=metal density (g/)

A= exposed area of metal ()

T= exposure time (hours)

METHODOLOGY
APPARATUS
50 cm3 boiling tube
(25 units)
Electronic balance
Hair dryer
Stopwatch
100 cm3 measuring
cylinder
Test tube rack
Scissors
100 cm3 beaker
forceps
METHODOLOGY
MATERIALS
Lead sheet ( Size: 5cm x2 cm)

Copper sheet ( Size: 5 cm x 2 cm)

Zinc sheet ( Size: 5 cm x 2 cm)
Tin sheet (Size: 5 cm x 2 cm)
Silver sheet (Size: 5 cm x 2cm)
Sandpaper
Distilled water
50 cm3 of 0.1 mol dm-3 hydrochloric
acid solution
50 cm3 of 0.1 mol dm-3 sodium
hydroxide solution
50 cm3 of 0.0001 mol dm-3
ammonia solution solution
50 cm3 of 0.0001 mol dm-3 ethanoic
acid solution
 PROCEDURE
1. Zinc, copper, lead, silver and tin
sheets were cut into size of 5cm x
2cm.
2. Sandpapers were used to clean
the metals.
3. The volume of each metal strip
was measured using water
displacement method in order to
obtain the density of each metal
strip.
4. After drying with hair dryer, the
metals were weight using an
electronic balance and the initial
mass is recorded.
5. The dilution technique was
performed after calculating the
required volume of each solution
using the formula M1V1 = M2V2 ,
where
M1 = Initial molarity of
7. The 5 metals Zinc, Lead, Silver,
Copper and
Tin were placed into each boiling
tube and left
for 48 hours to react.
8. The metals were then taken out
from each
solution using forceps and put onto
a filter
paper.
9. The metals were then dried using a
hair dryer.
10. The final mass of each metal was
weighed and recorded.
11.The change in mass was calculated
and the rate of corrosion was
determined using the Mils
penetration per year(mpy) formula.
12.All the steps were repeated by
substituting hydrochloric acid
solution with ethanoic acid
solution(pH 4), distilled water,
ammonia solution(pH 10) and
RESULT AND FINDINGS

Image 1: Metals in HCl Solution

From left to right: Zn, Pb, Ag, Cu, Sn

Image 2: Metals in CH3COOH solution

From left to right: Sn, Pb, Zn, Ag, Cu
RESULT AND FINDINGS

Image 3: Metals in distilled water.

From left to right: Zn, Pb, Ag, Cu, Sn

Image 4:Metals in NH3 solution

From left to right: Sn, Pb, Zn, Ag, Cu.
RESULT AND FINDINGS

Image 5: Metals in NaOH solution

From left to right: Pb, Zn, Ag, Sn, Cu
Corrosion Rate of
Metals Solution Initial Final mass
mass
Change in
mass
Rate of
corrosion
Zinc metal
(mpy)
Hydrochloric 1.45 1.25 0.20 0.154
acid (pH 1)

Ethanoic 1.6 1.50 0.10 0.071

acid (pH 4)
Distilled 1.38 1.30 0.08 0.064
water
Ammonia 1.4 1.30 0.10 0.079
(pH 10)
Sodium 1.5 1.305 0.15 0.111
Hydroxide
(pH 13)
Corrosion Rate of
Metals Solution Initial Final mass Change in Rate of
mass mass corrosion
Lead metal
(mpy)
Hydrochloric 1.38 1.30 0.08 0.064
acid (pH 1)

Ethanoic 1.24 1.20 0.04 0.036

acid (pH 4)

Distilled 1.08 1.06 0.02 0.021

water
Ammonia 1.25 1.15 0.10 0.089
(pH 10)
Sodium 1.22 1.07 0.15 0.137
Hydroxide
(pH 13)
Corrosion Rate of
Metals Solution Initial
mass
Final mass Change in
mass
Rate of
corrosion
Silver metal
(mpy)
Hydrochloric 1.56 1.55 0.01 0.007
acid (pH 1)

Ethanoic 1.42 1.40 0.02 0.016

acid (pH 4)
Distilled 1.45 1.45 0.00 0.000
water
Ammonia 1.08 1.00 0.08 0.082
(pH 10)
Sodium 0.78 0.70 0.08 0.114
Hydroxide
(pH 13)
Corrosion Rate of
Metals Solution Initial
mass
Final mass Change in
mass
Rate of
corrosion
Copper metal
(mpy)

Hydrochloric 1.06 0.1.05 0.01 0.010

acid (pH 1)
Ethanoic 0.87 0.86 0.01 0.013
acid (pH 4)
Distilled 1.08 1.08 0.01 0.010
water
Ammonia 1.02 1.00 0.02 0.022
(pH 10)
Sodium 1.12 0.99 0.03 0.030
Hydroxide
(pH 13)
Corrosion Rate
Solution Initial
of
Final mass Change in Rate of
Metals mass mass corrosion
Tin metal (mpy)

Hydrochloric 0.85 0.83 0.02 0.026

acid (pH 1)
Ethanoic acid 0.81 0.80 0.01 0.014
(pH 4)
Distilled 0.78 0.78 0.00 0.000
water
Ammonia 0.90 0.87 0.03 0.037
(pH 10)
Sodium 0.78 0.70 0.08 0.114
Hydroxide
(pH 13)
Data Zinc Metal E value (V)
Interpretation
and
Zn Zn2+ +2e +0.76
Discussion
Sn Sn2++2e +0.13

Pb Pb2++2e +0.13

Cu Cu2++2e -0.34

Ag Ag++e -0.80

- Coroded the most in both acids and distilled

water.
- Most positive standard electrode potential.
- Applied in galvanization.
 Lead

- Coroded the most in both alkalis.

- Heavy metal.
- Crumbles a lot in alkali.
- Corroded in distilled water.
- Used as roofing material.
- - forms a thick layer of lead(II) carbonate,
preventing further corrosive attack.
 Tin

- Similar to Lead.
- Coroded a lot in both alkalis.
- Heavy metal.
- Resistant to acids and distilled water.
- Applied in Tin plating of iron.
 Copper
Metal E value (V)

Zn Zn2+ +2e +0.76

Sn Sn2++2e +0.13

Pb Pb2++2e +0.13

Cu Cu2++2e -0.34

Ag Ag++e -0.80

- Relatively low corrosion rates in all conditions.

- Negative standard electrode potential.
- Forms black oxide in distilled water due to
formation of Copper(II) oxide.
- Used as an alloying element such as bronze and
brass.
 Silver
Metal E value (V)

Zn Zn2+ +2e +0.76

Sn Sn2++2e +0.13

Pb Pb2++2e +0.13

Cu Cu2++2e -0.34

Ag Ag++e -0.80

- Relatively low corrosion rates in all conditions.

- Most negative standard electrode potential.
- Remains shiny. No changes in all conditions.
- Used as coating for stainless steel alloys.
Conclusion
Corrosion of metals is indeed affected by pH levels.
Strong acids and strong alkalis have a higher corrosive
attack on metals.

Each metal has its own distinct corrosion behavior.

By figuring out on which metal suits best in which pH

condition, corrosive attack can be prevented.

Though corrosion may seem to be a disadvantage, it

has its advantages too.

Wastage of metal resources can be prevented, thus

allowing a long-lasting supply to the world.